New Member, Hello! Plus, what conversion have I bought?!

Post by **hobajay** » 20 May 2008, 17:06

Hello all,

I've just joined and am very much enjoying reading through lots of current and old posts!
My partner and I have just bought a van, a bit of an impulse buy to be honest and now we have many questions about what we've bought!

First and foremost, we don't know what conversion it is, and I'm very confused about camper/transporter/vanagon/T25/T3/Westfalia etc and what they all are.

So... It's a 1981 VW Transporter, it's had some bits of rust dealt with and some bits replaced then a respray.

Here are some pics, hopefully someone will be able to tell us what conversion it is!?

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/48501310

Also... I'm now worried that we paid too much for it...! Not much I can do about it now of course, but we paid £4,100 does that sound reasonable?!

Many thanks for any comments and or help on the conversion!

Jo.

Post by **maxstu** » 20 May 2008, 17:22

Hi Hobajay,
And let me be the first to welcome you to a new way of living.

Post by **maxstu** » 20 May 2008, 17:32

Sorry! Got called away to do some work

So give us some more details of your newly acquired money pit.

Petrol or diesel? Any coach builders' names anywhere to give us a clue?

I can't view your link due to ACCESS DENIED by our works systems. Nothing rude in there I hope.

Also, roughly whereabouts in London are you? Im in the south east.

Cheers

Stuart

Post by **kevtherev** » 20 May 2008, 17:44

[img:500:333]http://img3013.photobox.co.uk/174385375 ... aa4997.jpg[/img]

[img:500:333]http://img3013.photobox.co.uk/84604439a ... 5e7304.jpg[/img]

it's a Viking

Post by **maxstu** » 20 May 2008, 18:04

Thanks Kev

A fine looking camper. If all works and not a rust bucket then enjoy your new toy. In the end it what you are personally prepared to pay is that counts.
I paid three grand for Good ol Poppit and the engine went belly up after just 4k.

Not one regret, though!

Post by **redstar** » 20 May 2008, 18:19

Its a viking top, but unsure about the interior.
vikings normally have the fridge behind the
drivers seat, and a water/230v input at the 3/4
point on the same side... looks tidy mind!
oh and welcome

Post by **1664** » 21 May 2008, 06:43

Hello and welcome. Very nice conversion. You could hide an army in those Spacemaker roofs

Post by **hobajay** » 21 May 2008, 18:54

Thank you for the replies and the welcomes! And for posting the pictures where I was unable to Kevtherev!

Just got it insured today, more than I hoped to spend but with my dodgy postcode I'm kind of used to that now!

Stuart, I'm in Brixton (hence the dodgy postcode!), where abouts are you? Do you know of a good garage down south as I want to get it checked over/serviced and clutch/gear box looked at as it started to make some interesting noises on the drive home from Brighton.

Post by **maxstu** » 22 May 2008, 00:20

Hi Jo,
I'm near Dartford.

Let's hope the gearbox/clutch noises are not terminal

According to many on here there's is only one Gearbox God you should consider contacting and that's......
http://www.aidantalbot.com/
Despite being in Warrington, Aidan often pops up on here with sound advise. Or give him a ring to explain the noises. On all acccounts he's one of the good guys.
Also list your concerns on the Tech forum. This forum has a zillion readers boiling over with generous tips and info. Many a woe are sorted here by someone who has broken it, bent it & mended it before.
Finding a service garage that's properly knowledgeable about T25's is fairly rare. I've heard good stuff about Jack's Garage http://www.jacksgarage.co.uk/ in west London. Might be more appropriate for you.
For tuning, there's only one place I would use...... http://www.sanspeed.net/ Sanspeed in Bexleyheath. He knows his carbs.
Let me know how you get on?
Cheers

Post by **irishkeet** » 22 May 2008, 12:02

Greetings

nice van, love the colour

irishkeet

Post by **ermie571** » 22 May 2008, 12:25

Hi mate, and welcome.
for serving and engine stuff you con't do much better than elite motors in Basildon 01268 581111. They will look over it for you, and tell you what if anything is wrong, and how much to put right. They won't rip you off - they don't need the work - they have plenty of it!

Don't expect an immaculate workshop though....

Emma

Ps - the cooker set up looks much like the autohomes Kamper set up that I have (its second hand in a home-brew camper!!!) Got a viking roof soon to be in place on my caravelle

oh - you have an Aircooled motor (no bottom grill that watercooled (or wasserboxwer or water boxer) engines have.

Em
x

Post by **hobajay** » 22 May 2008, 15:19

Thanks very much for the recommendations! We'll have a look into them all. Think Jacks Garage is closest just probably hellish to get to in all that London traffic! Might drive there in the middle of the night

Emma, I was actually flipping through a book last night and spotted the autosleeper arrangement, thought mine looked quite similar maybe that's what she is then!

As you mention the engine..... that's another thing, it was replaced apparantly in 1994 but I've no idea what sort is in there now! Asked the guy I bought it from he also has no idea! Might try writing to the previous previous owner who did it as insurance lady said it was very important that they know! Guess I'll add that to my list of things to ask about in the tech pages though

Post by **kevtherev** » 24 May 2008, 07:50

hobajay wrote: Emma, I was actually flipping through a book last night and spotted the autosleeper arrangement, thought mine looked quite similar maybe that's what she is then!

)

er no.... not a 'sleeper, sorry

looks home built to me.